22 Potato Salad Recipes

A favorite side dish gets lightened up with some new flavors added as well in these 22 potato salad recipes.

A favorite side dish gets lightened up with some new flavors added as well in these 22 potato salad recipes.

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May 02, 2012

1 of 22Photo: Johnny Autry

Lemon-Herb Potato Salad

Potato salad is a reliable side dish for most occasions, especially summer barbeques and cookouts. However, most recipes are laden with mayonnaise, making them high in calories and fat. Our recipes offer a variety of alternative ways of preparing potato salad to lighten it up without sacrificing flavor.

First, we'll start with Lemon-Herb Potato Salad. The zest from the lemon complements the tangy Dijon mustard flavor in this potato salad. Kalamata olives provide the right touch of salt, and parsley, basil, and chives bring even more interest to this dish.

Sour Cream-Dill Potato Salad

Whip up a bowl of this lighter version of an all-American, classic side for your next picnic. Made with sour cream, Greek yogurt, cucumber, and fresh dill, this creamy potato salad is ready in 20 minutes.

Creamy Potato Salad

Our version of traditional potato salad uses light mayonnaise and nonfat Greek yogurt. It keeps the taste delicious and the calories in check. Serve it alongside grilled meats like burgers, chicken, or fish.

Smoked Potato Salad

The mesquite wood chips bring a strong smoky flavor to the potatoes, but the vinaigrette balances it out, especially when the kalamata olives are added to the mixture. To bring more heat to the potato salad, you can add cayenne or red chili flakes.

Creamy Buttermilk-Herb Potato Salad

This potato salad recipe calls for crème fraîche, a thickened cream product with a mildly tangy, nutty flavor. You'll often find it in tubs near the gourmet cheeses. If you can't find it, you can substitute full-fat sour cream.

Curried Potato Salad

Madras curry powder adds an extra degree of heat to this fun take on the potato salad. Greek yogurt keeps the consistency thick and the calories low, while cashews contribute an unexpected, yet pleasant crunch.

Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

This lemony potato salad can be made ahead, just prepare the recipe through step two. Once the potato mixture is completely cooled, cover and refrigerate. Toss with the fresh arugula just before serving so the greens don't wilt or get bruised.

Farmers' Market Potato Salad

A mix of red, purple, and brown-skinned fingerling potatoes makes this salad exceptionally stunning. If you can't find them, substitute small red potatoes. You can serve this dish at room temperature just after it's tossed together, or make it ahead, refrigerate, and serve chilled.

Potato Salad with Herbs and Grilled Summer Squash

This potato salad calls for cornichon, the French version of a gherkin. You'll find these small, tart pickles in gourmet grocery stores; otherwise, gherkins will work just fine. Or, if you have capers on hand, you may substitute 1 tablespoon drained capers for the pickles. The recipe can be prepared up to two hours ahead.

All-American Potato Salad

While we may call it All-American, this definitely isn't your mother's potato salad, high in calories and fat. We use canola mayo and even add three hard-boiled eggs for a substantial, filling side dish.

Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Salad

For something different, try this potato salad. The dressing's bacon drippings barely temper the sweet-tart notes from sugar, cider vinegar, and white vinegar. We halved the usual amount of bacon and bacon grease to cut calories and saturated fat, so a few slices of flavorful applewood-smoked bacon stand in to extend flavor.

Warm Potato and Goat Cheese Salad

In this potato salad, thick, rich goat cheese combines with sour cream for the basis of a creamy dressing that stands in for mayonnaise. It's certainly not your everyday or average potato salad, but it still makes for a delicious side at a barbeque or picnic.

Light and Fresh Potato Salad

If you don't like mayonnaise, this is the potato salad for you. With a vinaigrette base, the recipe truly lives up to its light and fresh claims. To make matters even better, there's only 90 calories per serving. Eat up!

Herbed Potato Salad

Roasted Potato Salad with Mustard Dressing

This tangy side dish with sweet onions and honey pairs beautifully with burgers or steak. This salad is best chilled but can stay at room temperature for up to two hours. You can also use sweet-hot mustard in place of the Dijon and honey for a zesty flavor.

Greek Lamb and Potato Salad

While you might serve potatoes as a side dish to lamb, the two are even better when combined in this Greek Lamb and Potato Salad. Hearty and filling, the Mediterranean flavors are a welcome variation to traditional potato salad recipes.